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A contemplation by Asaph.

74 God, why have you rejected us forever?
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old,
    which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance:
    Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins,
    all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly.
    They have set up their standards as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes,
    cutting through a thicket of trees.
Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.
    They have burned your sanctuary to the ground.
    They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.”
    They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
We see no miraculous signs.
    There is no longer any prophet,
    neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
10 How long, God, shall the adversary reproach?
    Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
11 Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand?
    Take it from your chest and consume them!

12 Yet God is my King of old,
    working salvation throughout the earth.
13 You divided the sea by your strength.
    You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces.
    You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
15 You opened up spring and stream.
    You dried up mighty rivers.
16 The day is yours, the night is also yours.
    You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 You have set all the boundaries of the earth.
    You have made summer and winter.

18 Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh.
    Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
19 Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts.
    Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Honor your covenant,
    for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
21 Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed.
    Let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Arise, God! Plead your own cause.
    Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
23 Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries.
    The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.

Psalm 74

A maskil[a] of Asaph.

O God, why have you rejected(A) us forever?(B)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(C)
Remember the nation you purchased(D) long ago,(E)
    the people of your inheritance,(F) whom you redeemed(G)
    Mount Zion,(H) where you dwelt.(I)
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(J)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

Your foes roared(K) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards(L) as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.(M)
They smashed all the carved(N) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled(O) the dwelling place(P) of your Name.(Q)
They said in their hearts, “We will crush(R) them completely!”
    They burned(S) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

We are given no signs from God;(T)
    no prophets(U) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(V) will the enemy mock(W) you, God?
    Will the foe revile(X) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(Y)
    Take it from the folds of your garment(Z) and destroy them!

12 But God is my King(AA) from long ago;
    he brings salvation(AB) on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea(AC) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster(AD) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(AE)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(AF)
15 It was you who opened up springs(AG) and streams;
    you dried up(AH) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.(AI)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(AJ) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.(AK)

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people(AL) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(AM) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted(AN) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(AO)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places(AP) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(AQ) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy(AR) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(AS) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools(AT) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(AU) of your adversaries,(AV)
    the uproar(AW) of your enemies,(AX) which rises continually.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term